Page 13 - September 2019 FOP Newsletter

Financial Secretary’s Report
We’re still doing our jobs
It is already September, and hopefully things are slowing down from the summer months. We are quite busy at Chicago Lodge 7.
We are still meeting with the City in contract negotiations. The National FOP Biennial Confer- ence took place in August, and Lodge 7 officers who attended will address some of the topics dis- cussed in this issue.
Members are also calling about many situa- tions regarding the contract, including overtime, special em- ployment and seniority use in the units and districts. Most situations are being solved with simple phone calls rather than going directly to paperwork. I always believe in solving a problem efficiently and quickly; there are enough ongoing problems without adding more to the list.
It is important to me that members do not spend time on situations that take away attention from their regular du- ties and home lives. Despite all the media bashing and anti- police rhetoric, officers are still doing their jobs. For example, I recently responded to a police-involved incident in the 7th District, where there was an emergency situation. Both the
savvy veteran officer and the short-timer reacted quickly and professionally in a difficult occurrence.
They were not concerned with disparaging words tossed at them or misinformed political views. They wanted to work their beats and keep citizens safe and crime-free. They are the police for the good of all, not to satisfy a few dissenters.
A Grievance Committee meeting was held on Aug. 21 with the following results: The committee decided to go forward with five grievances, including three that address the fourth watch problem at 35th Street. We decided to defer two for fur- ther investigation and withdraw five grievances in which we need the officer to explain the situation further for us to make a better decision.
By the way, while working on this article, I had a call from an officer who stated that because the watch operations lieu- tenant could not hear the officer being threatened on her body-cam video, he was going to release a prisoner without charges. The officer did not make this up — she was threat- ened. It seems we need a few more people in charge who be- lieve and back up their officers.
Stay safe.
MICHAEL GARZA
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2019 13